Owner/s

Organisation Name

Owner Category

Date Ownership Updated

NSW Police Service

State Government

27 Jan 99

Statement of significance:

The Windsor Police Station Stables originally a military barracks building, remains as a part of an important outpost of the earliest colonial government provision of law and order. It forms an important element in the Windsor Police precinct.

Date significance updated: 24 Nov 00

Note: The State Heritage Inventory provides information about heritage items listed by local and State government agencies. The State Heritage Inventory is continually being updated by local and State agencies as new information becomes available. Read the OEH copyright and disclaimer.

Description

Builder/Maker:

Major Barney

Construction years:

1836-

Physical description:

A two storey building designed in the colonial Georgian style. Sandstock brick exterior.

Physical condition and/orArchaeological potential:

The arched openings to the ground floor and windows have been mutilated.

No evidence of an archaeological assessment, but the remains of the Windsor Military Barracks (c1818) deserved investigation.

A Conservation Plan is required before any works are proposed. Any proposed works should respect the existing building fabric, including the interior.

Current use:

Police Station

Former use:

Military Barracks

History

Historical notes:

INDIGENOUS OCCUPATION
The lower Hawkesbury was home to the Dharug people. The proximity to the Nepean River and South Creek qualifies it as a key area for food resources for indigenous groups (Proudfoot, 1987).
The Dharug and Darkinjung people called the river Deerubbin and it was a vital source of food and transport (Nichols, 2010).

NON-INDIGENOUS OCCUPATION
Governor Arthur Phillip explored the local area in search of suitable agricultural land in 1789 and discovered and named the Hawkesbury River after Baron Hawkesbury. This region played a significant role in the early development of the colony with European settlers established here by 1794. Situated on fertile floodplains and well known for its abundant agriculture, Green Hills (as it was originally called) supported the colony through desperate times. However, frequent flooding meant that the farmers along the riverbanks were often ruined.

1794: The study area covering allotments at 23 through to 39 North Street, Windsor, is located on land first alienated for European purposes in a grant made by Francis Grose of thirty acres to Samuel Wilcox, who named it Wilcox Farm. It is likely that land clearance and agricultural activities as well as some building works took place during this period and during the subsequent of occupation;

early 19th century: Former Wilcox Farm was incorporated into a larger holding of 1500 acres known as Peninsula Farm.

Governor Lachlan Macquarie replaced Governor Bligh, taking up duty on 1/1/1810. Under his influence the colony propsered. His vision was for a free community, working in conjunction with the penal colony. He implemented an unrivalled public works program, completing 265 public buildings, establishing new public amenities and improving existing services such as roads. Under his leadership Hawkesbury district thrived. He visited the district on his first tour and recorded in his journal on 6/12/1810: 'After dinner I chrestened the new townships...I gave the name of Windsor to the town intended to be erected in the district of the Green Hills...the township in the Richmond district I have named Richmond...' the district reminded Macquarie of those towns in England, whilst Castlereagh, Pitt Town and Wilberforce were named after English statesmen. These are often referred to as Macquarie's Five Towns. Their localities, chiefly Windsor and Richmond, became more permanent with streets, town square and public buildings.

Macquarie also appointed local men in positions of authority. In 1810 a group of settlers sent a letter to him congratulating him on his leadership and improvements. It was published in the Sydney Gazette with his reply. He was 'much pleased with the sentiments' of the letter and assured them that the Haweksbury would 'always be an object of the greatest interest' to him (Nichols, 2010).

In marking out the towns of Windsor and Richmond in 1810, Governor Macquarie was acting on instructions from London. All of the Governors who held office between 1789 and 1822, from Phillip to Brisbane, recieved the same Letter of Instruction regarding the disposal of the 'waste lands of the Crown' that Britain claimed as her own. This included directives for the formation of towns and thus the extension of British civilisation to its Antipodean outpost (Proudfoot 1987, 7-9).

The remains of the Windsor Military Barracks which comprise some ruins, walling and buildings constructed between c1818 and occupied by 1820 with additions in the 1830s and 1840s. This building was constructed in 1836 by Major Barney and used as the Mounted Police Barracks.

Historic themes

Australian theme (abbrev)

New South Wales theme

Local theme

4. Settlement-Building settlements, towns and cities

Towns, suburbs and villages-Activities associated with creating, planning and managing urban functions, landscapes and lifestyles in towns, suburbs and villages

Creating landmark structures and places in regional settings-

7. Governing-Governing

Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.

(none)-

7. Governing-Governing

Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.

Developing roles for government - building and operating public infrastructure-

7. Governing-Governing

Government and Administration-Activities associated with the governance of local areas, regions, the State and the nation, and the administration of public programs - includes both principled and corrupt activities.

Providing public offices and buildings-

7. Governing-Governing

Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes

(none)-

7. Governing-Governing

Law and order-Activities associated with maintaining, promoting and implementing criminal and civil law and legal processes

Policing and enforcing the law-

Recommended management:

Further investigation needed.

Procedures /Exemptions

Section of act

Description

Title

Comments

Action date

57(2)

Exemption to allow work

Standard Exemptions

SCHEDULE OF STANDARD EXEMPTIONS
HERITAGE ACT 1977
Notice of Order Under Section 57 (2) of the Heritage Act 1977

I, the Minister for Planning, pursuant to subsection 57(2) of the Heritage Act 1977, on the recommendation of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, do by this Order:

1. revoke the Schedule of Exemptions to subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act made under subsection 57(2) and published in the Government Gazette on 22 February 2008; and

2. grant standard exemptions from subsection 57(1) of the Heritage Act 1977, described in the Schedule attached.

FRANK SARTOR
Minister for Planning
Sydney, 11 July 2008

To view the schedule click on the Standard Exemptions for Works Requiring Heritage Council Approval link below.